This resolution recommends and requests the president of the United States and the United States Congress to exclude the state of New Hampshire from offshore oil and gas drilling and exploration activities.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

Whereas, the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 2019-2024 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Draft Proposed Program includes federal waters off the coast of New Hampshire; and

Whereas, over 13,630 jobs and more than $1.4 billion of the New Hampshire's gross domestic product depend on clean, oil-free water and beaches and abundant fish and wildlife; and

Whereas, over 53 percent of the state's ocean-derived income stems from our tourism and recreation sector, contributing over $283,000,000 to the state's economy, and this economic sector benefits from and depends upon a healthy ocean and coast; and

Whereas, offshore oil and gas drilling and exploration activities place coastal communities at economic and ecological risk from oil spills and the pollution brought by routine drilling operations and onshore industrialization, threatening the quality of life and livelihoods of the state's citizens and important industries, such as tourism and recreation and commercial and recreational fishing, and small businesses that rely on a clean and healthy ocean and beaches; and

Whereas, the state of New Hampshire recognizes that its communities and industries depend on a healthy coastal environment for the benefit of current and future residents, property owners and visitors; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

That the general court of the state of New Hampshire believes that offshore oil and gas drilling and exploration risks our economic and ecological health and therefore opposes any plan or legislation that encourages oil and gas exploration offshore that would negatively affect the citizens of the state; and

That the general court of the state of New Hampshire respectfully requests that the President of the United States and the United States Congress direct the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to exclude the state and its offshore areas from the 2019-2024 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Draft Proposed Program; and

That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, to Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, to National Oil and Gas Leasing Program Development and Coordination Branch Chief Kelly Hammerle, to the President of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and to each member of the New Hampshire congressional delegation.